Programme Manager – Deployment Governance & Transition

Location: Europe (Switzerland / Italy preferred), Contract / Permanent 

Role Overview

We are seeking a senior Programme Manager to take ownership of governance, structure, and delivery discipline across a large-scale, multi-technology deployment programme.

The programme is transitioning from a traditional Time & Materials model to a structured, forward-deployed managed services model, and this role will be central to making that shift successful.

This is not a reporting role. We are not looking for a traditional PMO profile focused on reporting.

We are looking for a Programme Manager who can take control of how the programme operates and ensure delivery discipline from day one. This role is accountable for ensuring the programme operates within a defined delivery model and does not revert to ad hoc ways of working.

Responsibilities

 Own Programme Governance & Delivery Discipline

• Define, implement, and enforce governance across all workstreams
• Establish clear operating rhythms (daily/weekly/monthly cadences)
• Own RAID, KPI, SLA tracking — and ensure actions are driven, not just reported
• Act as the central control point for programme visibility and escalation
• Serve as the primary executor of PMO standards (QA, Testing, Tracking, Change Control) across all deployment streams.
• Deployment Committee meetings to drive status tracking and immediate blocker resolution
• Ensures disciplined execution and sits on the Tactical (performance) and Operational (daily management) Committees. 
• Ensure all Rollout Kits are complete, approved by the Program Customer Lead  and compliant with the Global Template prior to deployment.

 Drive the Delivery Model

• Ensure all teams operate within the defined deployment framework and ways of working
• Prevent regression into traditional staff augmentation / T&M behaviours
• Implement the Hybrid Agile methodology: "Agile at the Core" for build/test (Sprints) and "Waterfall at the Edge" for governance (Stage Gates)
• Maintain consistency across teams and locations, acting as the "Template Guardian" and escalating any deviations to the Program Lead immediately
• Embed consistency across deployment teams, locations, and technologies
• Work closely with leadership to reinforce expectations and behaviours

 Integrated Planning & Execution Oversight

• Own the end-to-end integrated programme plan across multiple workstreams:
  • ERP (e.g. SAP or equivalent)
  • CRM / digital platforms
  • Integration & data
  • Testing, deployment, and hypercare
• Manage dependencies, sequencing, and readiness across sites and regions
• Manage and monitor end-to-end rollout execution in alignment with the Go-Forward Deployment Office and Intake Office
• Maintain the Phase Cutover Plan and Performance Dashboard, keeping all stakeholders informed in real time
• Coordinate User Acceptance Testing (UAT) and obtain final system sign-off (Accountable)
• Ensure delivery milestones are realistic, tracked, and achieved

Operational Management

• Lead daily and weekly Deployment Committee meetings: surface blockers, track action items, and drive rapid resolution
• Monitor team capacity and workload across Forward Deployed Engineers and Project Managers 
• Coordinate with Site Coordinators and the Go-Forward Manager to resolve on-the-ground delivery issues in real time
• Oversee the Customer Shared Support Center operational readiness (Phase 2 onwards)

 Stand Up the Programme Properly (Phase 1 Focus)

• Support the onboarding of teams into a structured delivery model
• Ensure clarity of roles, responsibilities, and handoffs from day one
• Drive readiness activities (onboarding, knowledge transfer, deployment preparation)
• Establish early control to set the foundation for Phase 2 and managed services transition

Knowledge, Standards & Reusability

• Ensure consistent documentation, knowledge capture, and reuse of assets
• Support the creation of a scalable, repeatable deployment approach
• Promote a "Library-First" culture: ensure the team consults the Digital Knowledge Content Library before escalating to SMEs
• Reduce reliance on "tribal" knowledge by formalizing it into reusable digital assets for the Customer Client University
• Oversee contributions to the Customer Client University / Digital Knowledge Content Library to grow the reusable asset base
• Support the structured handoff of knowledge and operations to Customer during Phase 3 (quiet adoption)

 Stakeholder & Vendor Management

• Interface with senior client stakeholders, system integrators, and internal leadership
• Provide clear, concise, and actionable reporting at executive level
• Manage escalations proactively and drive resolution
• Prepare and present status reports, performance metrics and risk updates for Tactical and Operational Committees.
• Interface with the Program Customer Team Lead to ensure Template compliance and receive directional guidance (Phase 1).
• Liaise with Customer Extended teams, Site Key Users and K2 OCM Team per RACI responsibilities.
• Support the transition from T&M to Fixed-Price by documenting delivery evidence and contributing to pricing models.

Skills & Requirements

• 10–15+ years’ experience in Programme Management within large-scale IT or transformation programmes
• Proven experience leading multi-stream, multi-country deployment programmes
• Strong experience in enterprise environments (ERP, CRM, integrations, digital platforms)
• Experience driving structured delivery models or managed services transitions
• Track record of operating in complex, multi-vendor environments
• Strong leadership and presence — able to challenge and drive accountability
• Highly structured, with the ability to bring order to complex environments
• Excellent stakeholder management at both delivery and executive level
• Pragmatic — able to balance framework with delivery constraints
• Strong focus on execution, not just planning
• Experience with enterprise delivery frameworks (e.g. SAP Activate, Agile/Waterfall hybrid models)
• Strong planning capability (MS Project, Smartsheet or equivalent)
• Advanced reporting and programme tracking skills
• Comfortable operating in high-pressure, high-visibility environments